GOSSIP’s BETH DITTO Signs pledge in support of equal marriage!

Just
a Ball Game? caught up with Patrons GOSSIP on tour a couple of weeks ago and on
attending the show wearing an Equal Marriage Scotland t-shirt director Lindsay
England saw it commandeered by singer Beth Ditto who promptly dressed in the
shirt for the remainder of the set. Here’s the story with pictures and links to
the video

As
the USA turned out to vote and LGBT campaigners across the Atlantic marched
through the streets of Paris in favour of legislation on equal marriage this
week, alternative music fans in the French capital attending 2 sold out GOSSIP
shows were privy to singer Beth Ditto showing support for LGBT equality while
singing ‘gay anthem’ Standing in the Way of Control when she asked a friend in
the audience to hand her an EQUAL MARRIAGE SCOTLAND t-shirt, which was held up
and then promptly worn generating loud cheers from all present. The lyrics were
also extended to include a Nina Simone quote:

“YOU DON’T HAVE

TO
LIVE NEXT TO ME

JUST GIVE ME MY

EQUALITY………………”

*
Ladyfest 2001 Glasgow Scotland became the then little known American disco punk
indie funk fusion band’s first ever UK live performance.

*
Standing in the Way of Control was written as a response to the Federal
Marriage Amendment which would have constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage
in the United States. Beth says of the song: “Nobody in the States was that
surprised or shocked by what Bush did, but it made everyone I know feel
helpless and cheated. I wrote the chorus to try and encourage people not to
give up. It’s a scary time for civil rights, but I really believe the only way
to survive is to stick together and keep fighting.”

*
SITWOC was re-released as it charted mainstream as the theme to teenage drama
SKINS.